Awesome coaster, haven't been on it in a while, but one thing I miss from volunteering at the Aquarium in HS: we used to get on the cyclone free with our Aquarium IDs. On occasion they'd let us stay on for 3, 4 rides in a row. I've heard they don't allow that anymore though for current docents.

saw a documentary on the rides & attractions that once were at Coney. 'safety first' was not a priority. some rides were scary just to watch. oddly enough people then also stayed well protected from the sun. we're getting stupider and smarter.

During WWII Dad rode both the Cyclone and the Giant Dipper before hitting thePacific battles. I had seen pics of him at both but sadly enough they are lost to time.Would be neat to see them now,he was a hell raising player those days.

KrispyKritter:saw a documentary on the rides & attractions that once were at Coney. 'safety first' was not a priority. some rides were scary just to watch. oddly enough people then also stayed well protected from the sun. we're getting stupider and smarter.

I think I saw that too. Some of those "rides" could be considered torture devices. I did like the one with the spinning disks on the floor that just shot people all around.

sweet-daddy-2:During WWII Dad rode both the Cyclone and the Giant Dipper before hitting thePacific battles. I had seen pics of him at both but sadly enough they are lost to time.Would be neat to see them now,he was a hell raising player those days.

Sounds like my Dad & his brothers. 8-D

My grandfather ran a Boys' Club for troubled kids in NYC. My Dad was given the task of taking a bunch of them to Coney Island every month. He'd go with plenty of cash to cover their expenses. These were NYC street kids. He never had to buy anything--they stole everything they wanted, from rides to lunch to prizes. He'd herd them on to Cyclone and watch to see which ones dropped their loot first.

we had a cyclone but it was called a cotton gin. It'd pull your hair out if you weren't careful. take one small step wrong, lose a limb. cost us 5 cents to get in and we had to lift 50 lb bails of cotton just to get out. awww but it was fun.

Makes me think of the Ship of Theseus Paradox: Is it still the same coaster if every part has been replaced? Not that I know every part has been replaced, just seems like there can't be that much original on that thing. I'm just blue skying because I'm too sleepy to work on a Monday morning. Also, wooden coasters are AWESOME! I'd so much rather ride them than those lamo smooth metal coasters.

Rode on that when I was 13, and way skinnier. I too, felt the chilly hand of death as I started to come out of the safety bar. The feeling of dread as you try to determine the extent of the dry rot and popped nails...Front car. Only one on there. Awesome, but shall not repeat that.

haemaker:The Giant Dipper kindly requests the Cyclone get off its lawn.

I've rode the Giant Dipper. Lots of fun. Long Beach used to have The Cyclone Racer, which was a double track (two cars racing side by side) that went out over the ocean. My dad and his fellow Marine Corps buddy took their wives (over their protestations) on this roller coaster. After the ride, the ladies opted to ride again, while the gentlemen chose to... not.

But you climb that first hill and the rickety tick-tack becomes less comforting. And that steep drop and the old corners become something you had not anticipated.

And by the time the ride ends, much later than you had expected - because it is so damned small - well, you are glad it is over and a tad embarrassed that you got that anxious.

^^This^^

I've been on a lot of roller-coasters, but nothing beats the Cyclone. That rickety sound while climbing the first rise gets me nervous, but then I'm calmed for a split second as the ocean comes into view. Then, BLAM!

The Cyclone is the scariest thing I have ever ridden. First time on it I smashed the fark out of my nose on the seat in front of me coming out of the first drop. The whole experience was terrifying in a way no modern coaster can ever be.